Medical Treatments for Prostate Cancer

There are many different medical treatments for prostate cancer that involve the clinical care of a healthcare professional. These treatments include expectant therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Expectant therapy is to carefully observe and monitor the prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer cells often spread very slowly, many older men who have the disease may not need more extensive treatment. However, expectant therapy usually includes routine physician examinations, including digital rectal exams and PSA tests. The different types of surgery for prostate cancer are radical prostatectomy - an open-surgery procedure in which the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissue are removed. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) - surgery to remove part of the prostate gland that surrounds the urethra. Cryosurgery - this procedure involves killing the cancer cells by freezing them with a small metal tool placed in the tumor. Side effects of prostate cancer surgery include incontinence and impotence. Incontinence is the inability to control urine and may result in dribbling of urine, especially immediately after surgery. Normal control usually returns within weeks or months after surgery. Impotence is the inability to achieve an erection. For a month, or so, after surgery, most men are not able to get an erection. Eventually, approximately 40 to 60 percent of men will be able to get an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, but without ejaculation of semen, since removal of the prostate gland prevents that process.

Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells, and to decrease their ability to divide. Radiation is often used to treat prostate cancer that is still confined to the prostate gland, or has spread only to nearby tissue. If the disease is advanced, radiation may be used to reduce the size of the tumor and to provide relief from symptoms. Possible side effects of radiation for prostate cancer may include diarrhea, with or without blood in the stool, and colitis, problems associated with urination, a degree of impotence (inability to get an erection), which may occur within two years of radiation therapy.

The goal of hormone therapy is to lower the level of male hormones in the body, particularly testosterone. Hormone therapy does not cure the cancer, and is often used to treat persons whose cancer has spread or recurred after treatment. Produced mainly in the testicles, testosterone causes prostate cancer cells to grow. Thus, reduced testosterone levels can make the prostate cancer shrink and become less active. Most studies show that hormone therapy works better if it is started early. Chemotherapy is the use of powerful, anti-cancer medications to kill cancer cells.. Hospitalization may be needed to monitor treatment and chemotherapy's side effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy include: nausea and vomiting, hair loss, anemia, reduced ability of blood to clot, mouth sores, increased likelihood of developing infections, fatigue. Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped.

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MedlinePlus: Prostate Cancer
Diagnosis/Symptoms. Early Prostate Cancer: Questions and Answers From the National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute)

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Prostate cancer
Additionally, while most of the symptoms listed below can be associated with prostate cancer, they are more likely to be associated with non-cancerous

Prostate Cancer Symptoms Cancer Links | Prostate Cancer Treatment
Cancer Links provides direct access to other cancer information, prostate cancer information, symptoms and treatment of prostate cancer information services

Are There Any Early Symptoms? Prostate Cancer Early Development
Are There Any Early Symptoms? Prostate Cancer Early Development.

Prostate cancer - treatment, symptoms and causes
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should visit your GP for advice. If prostate cancer is found early, it can often be cured.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer - WrongDiagnosis.com
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:. Early prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. But prostate cancer can cause any of these

Prostate Cancer Early Symptoms at Henry Ford
Prostate cancer early symptoms : The urologists at the Vattikuti Urology Institute specialize in the world's most state-of-the-art treatments of prostate

SOS - Prostate Cancer

Most early cases of prostate cancer cause no symptoms, but some early signs. may be frequent urination, especially at night; blood in urine;

ACS :: How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
If certain symptoms or the results of early detection tests -- the A core needle biopsy is the main method used to diagnose prostate cancer.

Health & Medical News - Early signs of prostate cancer - 04/12/2000
A reliable early warning sign for prostate cancer has eluded researchers so far - but the results of a new study go a step closer towards finding one.

Early Prostate Cancer: Questions and Answers - National Cancer
The symptoms of prostate cancer can also be caused by noncancerous . Stage refers to the extent of the cancer. Early prostate cancer, stages I and II,


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